Cotton-machine



J. 3. CONRAD. COTTON MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 19:8,

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

WI TNESSES:

A TTOBNE) J. C. CONRAD. COTTON MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1928,

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

WITNESSES.

1 W ATTORNEY J. C. CONRAD.

COTTON MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27 I 9I8,

1,33 1,000, 7 Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITIIESSES: I /m' J. C. CONRAD.

COTTON MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JU LY 27. 19:8,

lllhw Patented Feb. 17,1920. 1 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 :g INVENTOR 067M 0. $07M. I

ITTOHNEY JOSHUA C. CONRAD, OF CEMENT, OKLAHOMA.

COTTON-MACHINE.

I Application filed July 2?. 1251s. Serial no. 247,009;

T all whom, it may Concern: Be it known that l, JGSHUA Comm), a citizen ofthe United States, residing, at 16;

ment, county of Caddo, and State of Okla hoina, have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements in Cotton-h lachmes, of

. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton machines, and may be more partlcula-rly identlfied with that class of machines which are used.

in the recovery. of seed cotton from the hulls and other trash before feeding the seed cotton to the ginning machine.

As is well known to those more intimately associated with cotton ginning and separating processes, the trash which has passed through the devices for separating the cotton from the hulls, is usually burned, or in other ways disposed of. It is also a well known fact that such trash and hulls contain a material amount of seed cotton and seed, which, if it were possible to recover, would materially increase the profits of the plant. No devices, however, have been contrived whereby there may be a recovery of all valuable matters mixed in with the trash, in a manner thoroughly efficient, and yet which is'sufiiciently simple and cheap in construction as to be practical. It is the primary object of my invention to provide means by which a complete recovery may be had of all such seed cotton, fiber and seed.

A further and a particular object of my invention is to provide an, improved machine of the character mentioned whereby the bollyicotton may be fed from the (11S- tributer to the gin and during such process of feeding may be thoroughly cleaned of trash and hulls and all the fiber removed from the trash and hulls before-the latter are discharged from the machine. A further object of my invention is to provide a device for attaining the desired result, which will be simplein construction,

composed of but comparatively few parts, and which may be installed and operated at such low cost as to renderthe same practical to the ordinarycotton cleaning'fzand ginning institution.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device as thus briefly set forth, which is operated entirely by mechanical means, and which automatically separates the cotton and seed, from the shells and trash, and which after the separation, de-

posits the seed cotton, seed and trash in separate receptacles.

, l Yith thesembjects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, 'my invention resides in the arrangement of rotating'cylinders provided with disintegrating means, means for conveying the trash and 'seed cotton to the cylinders, means for bringing the trash and shells into contact with the revolving cylinders, the provision of brushes or beaters cooperating with "the cylinders to throw back into the conveying means any shells or matter other than seed cotton, and means for removing any seed cotton collected by the disinte rating means.

My invention further consists in the arrangement as thus briefly described, the conveyin meansbeing provided with co6perating elements for the separation of the seed or trash from the shells, and a second conveyer for carrying the seed and trash to the depository provided.

My invention still further consists in th arrangement of a conveyer between a pair of revolving disintegrating cylinders, rotary picks or picker rollers cooperating with the conveyer for forcing the trash andshells, carried by the conveyer, into-contact with the revolving cylinders, brushes or beaters cooperating with the cylinders to break and relieve from the latter any shells or trash which might have collected thereon, the arrangement being such as to deliver the trash, hulls and seed cotton to the cylinders, and brushes or heaters, upon several occasions before the shells are finally discharged from the machine, means for relievingthe cylinders of the collected seed cotton, and means for depositing the seed cot ton and shells into their respective depositories, 1

With these objects in view, together with others'which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel invention,

illustrated. in Fig. 1,

Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the device Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of I the device, parts of which are broken away,

- Fig. #4 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 4:4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a vertical. longitudinal section taken substantially upon the line 5--5 ofv Fig. 3, illustrating the general relation of the cooperating parts, and also showing a modified form of disintegrating cylinder and means for relieving the same of trash or other undesirable matter,

Fig. 6 is-a fragmentary transverse section, illustrating the upper-parts of the device, and taken upon the line 6 6. of F ig. 5, and

and this. frame comprises vertical bars or supports 2, longitudinally extending side bars 3 and transverse end bars or supports 4; the combined arrangement of which constitutes a suitable frame for the accommodation of the several mechanical parts resorted to in attaining the desired ends.

' Within the frame thus provided, extending longitudinally thereof, "and in a horizontal and preferably in the same horizontal plane,

plane, is a pair of cotton collecting or disintegrating cylinders or drums 5 and 6. -These'cylinders or drums are arranged preferably at opposite sides of the frame,

and are'provided in their peripheries with oppositely disposed outwardly extending disintegratin teeth 7. As shown more clearly in Flgs. 3 and 4 of the drawings,

' these teeth are preferably stamped from the metal constituting the surface of the drums, are of substantially V-shape and bent or extended outwardly at an angle to present sharp points. It is also to be observed that these teeth are in staggered relation to each other .so that upon rotation of the drum, anything coming in contact with the outer surface thereof will be engaged by some of the teeth. Each of the drums is secured upon a shaft 8 which is mounted in bearings at each end upon opposite end members of the frame 1, and in operation the drum or cylinders are adapted -to rotate in opposite directions. Located substantially mid-way between the cylinders, in a plane slightly below the center thereof, and extending in the same longitudinal direction of the shaft 8, is a conveyer 11. This conveyer, in the present instance, consists of a worm 12, mounted for rotation at one end in a suitable bearing bracket 13 upon the frame, and'extending beyond the main frame at the opposite or rear end to bevmounted in bearingsl i secured upon the structure 15' at a distance substantially remote from the frame proper of the device. The exposed end, or that portion of the conveyer worm which extends beyond the rear end of the frame, rotates in a hopper 16, which latter is provided with a perforated bottom 17, and be neath said bottom is a longitudinally extending trough 18,wh1ch-extends into the main portion of the device as shown clearly in F ig; 5 of the drawings. The side walls of'the hopper 16 terminate at the rear end of the frame 1,- so that the conveyer worm 12 will be substantially .uninclosed when within the frame proper. of the device. The trough, 18, which extends substantially throughout the length of the structure is preferably provided with a worm 19,

mounted for rotation in suitable bearings,

and tlie convolutions of which may be such as to convey material in a direction opposite to that of the feed of the'worm 12. A discharge 20 is provided at the extreme rear end of the trough 18, which may ex- .11, between the said conveyer and the cylinders 5 and 6, and extending in the same longltudinal dlrection therewith, is a plu- -rality of picker rollers 21, 22, 21 21* and These rollers are mounted to be CZLl'- ried by their respective shafts 23, 24, 23

peripheries thereof. Each of these picker rollers 21 and 22 is adapted to rotate in the V same direction with its adjacent disinte-- -grat1ng cylinder or drum.

Within the main frame, the'trough 18 is flattened somewhat, as indicated in Fig. 4, and above said trough and between the same and the rollers is a screen 18. The rollers 21, 21 and 21 together with the screen 18,

are terminated short of the front of the machine, forming a discharge passageway 16 for the trash and hulls.

'- From the foregoing description it will be seen thatupon operation of the elements so into a position to be acted upon or treated by the disintegrating cylinders 5 and 6. It

will also be obvious that during the conveying operation, any seed which may have been deposited with the trash into the hopper 16 will be ejected therefrom through the perforated bottom 17 and the screen 18 into the .trough 18, and conveyed to a suitable receptacle or depository by the conveyer 19.

During the rotation of the conveyer 12 in its the spiked rollers and cylinders, therefuse will be broken up and in better condition to be treated for the recovery of valuable matters therefrom. Upon entering the frame proper of the device,'the contents of the con-- veyer will be forced into engagement with the spiked rollers 21,22, 21, 21 and 21 and the latter, through their rapid rotation, will convey the same into a positionto be contacted by the teeth of the rotating cylinders.

The teeth of these cylinders will in turn,

-disintegrating teeth 7. Thesebrushes or beaters 25 and 26 are arranged preferably above the cylinders 5 and 6', being spaced therefrom a suitable distance to allow the bristles thereof to extend close to the teeth to free the latter of any material which may have accumulated thereon. In this manner itwill be apparent that any shells, sticks or other trash which has accumulated upon the cylinders will not only be removed from the latter, but will be thrown back in the path of the conveye'r to'be again subjected to the treatment, and to be finally conveyed from the machine throughthe discharge passageway 16 at the extreme end of the trough 16.

brushes are each mounted upon their shafts 33 and 34 respectively, and the ends of the latter are suitably journaled in bearings 35 secured to the frame. Acasing 36, inclosing substantially theentire lower portion of the device, is provided, in order that the cotton thus collected, may be delivered, through the discharge opening 37, to the gin;

In order that 'the shells and trash after being subjected to the treatment by the disintegrating cylinders, may ,be dischargedfrom the machine, a conveyer 38 is provided beneath the seed'conveying'trough 18, and which is in communication with the discharge passageway 16. The conveyer 38 is inclosed by a trough like casing 39 so that the small particles of'tiash, after having been'operated upon in the manner described to be relieved of all valuable matter will be 'finally deposited, through the operation of the spike'd rollers, into the conveyer38 to be conducted through the discharge 38 from'the machine. l

.In Figs.- 5 and 6 of the drawings I have illustrated the general principle of my invention with modified cylinders and means for relieving the same of shells or trash. In this form of my device I dlspense with the cylinders as illustrated in the device above described, and substitute gangs 5 and 6 0f rotary saws. These saws are mounted securely upon their respective shafts and are held in spaced relation to each other byspacing blocks or disks 9 and with the exception of this particular arrangement, the operation of the saw gangs is identical to that of the cylinders or drums above referred to. In order that the more solid matter collected by the saw teeth may be disengagedtherefrom and returned to the conveyer,-- I substitute in place of the brushes 25 and 26-, beaters or kickers 25 and 26, which are shown more particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawings to present a plurality of outwardly extending arcuate arms. These; arms are adapted in operation to extend close to the saws constituting the saw gangs,- to relieve the same of any shells or other similar material from the teeth of the saws. v

In Fig. 7 of the drawing I have illustrated a still further modified form of the device, in which the saw gangs illustrated particularly in Figs. 5 and 6 are employed in 'connectlon wlth the rotary brushes de scribed in the preferred form of the devlce for relieving the cylinders of shells and other trash. When the saw gangs are substituted in this respect, it is necessary that some means be provided to prevent small particles of shells from becoming mixed with the gleaned cotton, through the spacesbetween the several saw blades, and to obviate this objection the disks 9 are increased in diameter so that their peripheries extend nearly flush with the base or root of the teeth of the saw. It will be seen from this arrangement that saw gangs may be readily substituted for the disintegrating cylinders described in the preferred form of the device without working the following arrangement has been found.

in practice to be most efficient. Power is I applied primarily to the machine through the chain 43, which imparts rotary motionthrough the brush shaft 33 and the gears.

4A and45 to the shaft 8 carrying the cylinders 5. 'Ihe'shaft 8 is extended rearwardlybeyond the main frame of the device, and is provided at its extremity with a sprocket 46, through which rotary motion is imparted to the worm 12through the chain 47 and gear .48. A sprocket 49 is provided upon the forward end of the shaft 33 by -,means of which the shaft 8 upon the opposite side of the machine is operated, through the medium of the sprocket chain 50 and sprocket wheel 51. The motion thus im- -parted to this shaft 8 is utilized to rotate its respective brush or beater gang, and

. spiked rollers, through the chain 52, and

the sprockets 53 and 54 respectively of the said beater gang shaft and the 'spikedroller shafts, while the motion already impartedto the'opposite shaft 8 is similarly delivered to its cooperating brush 25, and spiked roller 21 through the sprockets 55, 56 and 57, and the chain 58. Power necessary to operate the conveyer'38 is derived from the sprocket 59 upon one of the cylinder shafts; a sprocket 60 upon the shaft of the said conveyor 38 deriving its powerthrough the sprocket chain 61. This conveyer shaftin turn imparts rotary motion to the seed con veyer 19 through the sprockets 62 and 63, and the sprocket chain 64.

It will be obvious from this description.

that bolly secd cotton may be treated, before going to the gin, to relieve the same of cotton seed, hulls and trash, and thus greatly hasten the ginning process. It is obvious also that by the thorough treatment of the entire body of the contents which is delivered to the dtvice, the shells and trash may be destroyed with the least possible danger of any cotton or seed being wasted. It is also to be particularly ob served that the construction set forth is of such character as to be. cheap in manufac-' ture, simple in its construction and operation, and that any of the parts which may become worn or disabled may be quickly and easily replaced at comparatively small cost. vices may be used in batteries as is common practice'with gin feeders, the branches of the distributor feed either to the hoppers 16 or directly between the drums 5 and.6 as above mentioned. l/Vhile in the above specification I have described the device in its simplest and most concise form,.it is to be understood that various minor changes It should be understood that the dein the construction, and arrangement of the several parts, may be made without departing. from the spirit and general scope of the invention.

I claim:'

'1. A device for removing seed cotton and seed from hulls and trash comprising conveyer, disintegrating cylinders on opposite sides ofsaid conveyer, means for conveying the contents of said conveyer into contact with said cylinders, and means for brushing said cylinders, substantially as described.

2. A device for removing seed cotton and seed from hulls and trash comprising conveyer, cylinders on opposite sides of said conveyer,-provided with disintegrating teeth, spiked rollers under said conveyer and between the same and said cylinders whereby the contents of said conveyer will be conveyed into immediate contact with said teeth, and

-' meansfor cleaning said cylinders and teeth,

substantially as described. I

3. In a-device of the class describ d, a conveyer, disintegrating cylinders rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said conveyer and adapted to rotate in opposite directions, spiked rollers under saidconveyer and between the same andsaid cylinders whereby the contents of conveyer will be con veyed into immediate contact with sald cylinders, and means for brushing saidv cylinders, substantially as described.

4. In' a device of the class described, oppositely rotating disintegrating cylinders, means for conveying refuse to said cylinders and brushes mounted to rotate at a greater speed than, and with their bristles contacting said cylinders, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class descri'bed, oppositely rotating disintegrating cylinders, means for conveying refuse or bolly seed cotton to said cylinders and rotary brushes mounted with their bristles engaging and rotating in opposite direction to and at a greater speed than said cylinders, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, a

conveyor adapted to receive bolly cotton or gin refuse, means cooperating with said con refuse or hullsycylinders on opposite sides of said conveyor, provided with cotton col- .veyer for separating seed cotton from said lecting teeth, spiked rollers cooperating with i said con-veyer to convey said bolly cotton or refuse into immediate contact with said cylinders, and brushes cotiperating with the teeth of said cylinders for removing fiber therefrom, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, a conveyer inclosed within a trough-like receptacle, said trough-like receptacle being provided in its bottom with perforations whereby cotton seed or dirt may be discharged, a second conveyer mounted in a trough beneath said first conveyer for carrying the discharged seed or dirt to a depository, cylinders on opposite sides of said first conveye'r, provided with cotton collecting teeth, spiked rollers cooperating with said conveyor whereby the contents of said conveyer will be brought into contact with said cylinders, and brushes for removing any matter secured to the teeth of said saws, substantially as described.

8. In Zl' ClGVlC6 of the class described, a conveyer ihclosed within a perforated ti'ough like receptacle, a second conveyer benezith said trough-like receptacle, gang saws on opposite sides of said first conveyer and spiked rollers between and under said saws and said conveyer whereby shells carried by the latter will be brought into contact with the said saws, a receptacle provided with a conveyer beneath and cooperating with said spiked rollersnrhereby said shells will be removed from the machine, rotary brushes cooperating with said saws to remove any matter collected upon the teeth thereof, and a receptacle for the matter thus removed, substantially as described.

9. A device as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by a screen beneath the spiked rollers under the conveyer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

v JOSHUA C. CONRAD. Witnesses i V. J .-PRENTICE, A. E. ROLAND. 

